An abusive boyfriend repeatedly assaulted his partner during a near two-year campaign of cruelty.
When the relationship ended, Nathan McLaren threatened to release an intimate video of his victim to a family member.
The 26-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and pled guilty to assaulting his then-partner to her injury on six occasions between February 25 2018, and December 5 2019.
The attacks happened at several locations, including the Bank Bar on Perth’s North Methven Street and addresses in Scone, Crieff and Perth.
McLaren admitted he pushed his girlfriend, causing her to fall and strike her head and kicked her on the body.
He seized her by the hair and pulled her, repeatedly pushed her to the ground and threw a block of wood at her.
McLaren also pled guilty to a charge that, in February 2019, he threatened to disclose an intimate video of his then ex-girlfriend to a relative.
He did this, he admitted, to cause her fear, alarm or distress.
Alternative to prison
Sheriff Pino di Emidio told McLaren: “You pled guilty to a charge of assault, which happened over various occasions and that was domestically aggravated.
“There was a total of six separate incidents, although not all of them were the same level of seriousness.
“And you threatened to disclose an intimate image of your partner.
“That is a charge that the court has to take seriously.”
He said: “I have a detailed supplementary background report that concludes you are not someone who requires to take part in the Caledonia Programme for domestic offenders.
“That being the case, what I propose to do is to make a community payback order as an alternative to imprisonment.”
Non-harassment order
The sheriff said McLaren could be jailed at a later stage, if he does not comply with the order.
McLaren, of Dunsinane Drive, Perth, was placed on supervision for two years and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
As part of the supervision order, he will be made to work on issues such as victim empathy, coping mechanisms and healthy relationships.
“I propose the court keeps an eye on you and the progress of this order,” said the sheriff.
“You will have to come back to court at a later today for a progress review.”
The sheriff further imposed a non-harassment order, banning him from contacting or approaching his ex-partner for 12 months.
Solicitor Paul Ralph said his client had a positive background report and had stayed out of trouble since he first appeared in court two years ago.
He said a non-harassment order “seemed logical”.
